When you go to the YouVersion page, you'll be immediately taken to the home page, with a text window on your left and then some fancy looking stuff on your right. Basically, YouVersion functions as your own personal online Bible. Just by signing up and creating an account, you have access to every major Bible translation as well as translations in several other languages.
But you can do more than just read the Bible on here. In fact, while reading, you can also make what's called a "contribution," or read other's "contributions" on a particular passage. For instance, if you go to YouVersion and look at Jeremiah 1:5, under the "Community Contributions" tab, you'll see one called "Chosen" which was actually submitted by me (wblackburn0316). If you're reading along and you have a particular thought or something that you'd like to share, just click on that verse in the text, and then click on the "Contribute" button and then you can share whatever's on your heart. If you want, you can even link videos and pictures to your particular contribution.
Maybe you're not up for sharing your thoughts with an entire community or maybe your thoughts are just a little too personal for public viewing. No problem... just click on the "Journal" section and you can make your own (private) journal entry for that passage that you can refer back to at any time. It's a really handy thing for some more personal application for just journaling your thoughts to God or even just for having a way to track your own personal spiritual journey. In the journal and contributions column, if you scroll up and down, you'll also see that they offer several different Bible reading plans for those of you looking for that and there is also an audio Bible available if you'd rather listen instead.
You can also find other people you know or like on YouVersion and then "follow" them which basically means that when you click on the "My" tab at the top of the webpage, you can see any action that people you follow have taken. For instance, if one of the people I follow posts a new contribution on a particular Bible verse, when I click on the "My" tab, I can see that they did that and choose to read that contribution if I wish. With YouVersion's new "live" feature, you can also join groups online and then go to the group page and see what all the people in that particular group are doing (check Suncrest out at www.youversion.com/groups/suncrest).
But by far, the coolest feature about YouVersion is the "mobile" option. If you have a smart phone like an iPhone, BlackBerry, etc., you can actually download YouVersion onto your phone and have instant access to the Bible at any time or any point you have your phone with you. That might mean that you now have a few minutes to read the Bible on your way to work if you take a train, bus, or whatever. Maybe you have a valuable opportunity to share your faith... don't need to worry if you're at work and don't have your Bible because you have it on your phone! Pretty awesome feature if you ask me! Go to the "Mobile" tab at the top of the YouVersion page and then on the overview page, click on the type of phone you have, and YouVersion's site will give you the appropriate instructions. YouVersion also has a mobile app in the iTunes store so you can also download the app if you have an iPod touch.
YouVersion is an awesome study resource. If you're stuck or looking for something to jump start you or just to get you started on the journey of knowing God's Word better, I'd highly recommend it. You won't be sorry!
wb
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